After the delivery of the trial in October, run by Steward of the beat Xxxxxxx with gamekeeper xxxxxx on the Xxxxxxx shoot was once again a matter of pride, the performance of many of the dogs was a disappointment. Once again the experienced panel judges were full of praise for the venue and structure of the day, but sadly at the end could only award a second place, the standard of the highest placed dog being insufficient to be awarded a qualification into Open Trials. Poor heelwork, failure to stop on the whistle and whining were basic issues with too many of the entrants who had been lucky enough to get a run from a large field that were in the draw. It is disappointing that some members may have seen their dogs in an optimistic light when applying to run, but in reality they were not ready for the pressure of a trial. In doing so they denied a run to dogs further down the draw that were trained and ready to win given the chance. If you are considering entering Field Trials in 2018 we urge you to speak to one of the committee who is experienced in Field Trials to ensure you understand what is expected of your dog, we can then give you pointers to ensure your dog is ready for next year’s trialling season. The date for our Novice Field Trial in 2018 will be confirmed as soon as possible.